SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE -- The supervisors’ statements gave credence to recent protests, including that of five hunger strikers, but whose support throughout the city was never apparent.
They also increased the pressure on the low-key Lee, who has struggled throughout to handle the situation, said Jason McDaniel, SF State Political Science assistant professor.
“I do think his lack of those core public political skills, things that people sometimes take for granted or things people dismiss — that Bill Clinton was too slick — that’s allowed a lot of his opponents to control a lot of the narrative of the city and the city’s direction much more than he has,” McDaniel said. “This is the latest example of that.”
“Replacing a police chief is a big, big decision,” he added, “so I don’t envy the mayor that decision. But they have to be thinking about that possibility now. If they are not, then they are not connected enough to what’s going on in this city as maybe they should be.”